2005 Forest River TSUNAMI: complaints, problems and recalls

DT: WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAD A BLOWOUT AT 55 MPH ON TURNPIKE. THIS HAPPENED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL TIRE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE MOTORHOME. TOOK THE TIRE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER, WHO SAID CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE, AND THEY WOULD TAKE THE BLOWN OUT TIRE AND SEND IT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR INSPECTION BY AN ENGINEER. IF THERE WAS A DEFECT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE TIRE TO DEALER FROM WHERE RV WAS PURCHASED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED TIRE FREE OF CHARGE. LATER AT HOME, CONSUMER NOTED A BUBBLE/BLIST…

Owner-reported narrative. 780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127516 at NHTSA ↗

DT: ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 WAS TRYING TO CLOSE THE WATER RELEASE FOR GRAY WATER, BAY WATER, AND THE FRESH WATER. WENT TO SHUT THE GRAY WATER RELEASE BECAUSE IT WAS DRIPPING, AND WHEN CHECKING IT THE CONSUMER GOT ELECTROCUTED. THERE WAS A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THIS TRAILER. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE IT PLUGGED UP BECAUSE WAS AFRAID OF THE TRAILER. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY WANTED THE CONSUMER TO BRING THE TRAILER BACK, BUT THEY WILL NOT GIVE THE MONEY BACK. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY QUOTED THE DEALER ASKING THE CONSUMER T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138133 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE SYSTEMS' AQUA-HOT AND HYDRO-HOT WATER HEATERS, WHICH USE WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, THE BURNER TUBES DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.

Consequence: THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE EXHAUST TUBE EXITING FROM THE HEATER CAN INCREASE AND COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IN OR AROUND THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: VEHICLE SYSTEMS IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VEHICLE SYSTEMS AT 1-800-685-4298 OR FOREST RIVER AT 574-522-1583.

Reported: 2008-02-14 (February 14, 2008)

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING 89 MY 2003-2008 TSUNAMI MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS. THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATION BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATION BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.

Consequence: THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Reported: 2008-07-07 (July 7, 2008)

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2003-2006 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Reported: 2011-03-01 (March 1, 2011)

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Consequence: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101.